Reversible blower unit



June 4, 1940. H. D. EUWER REVERSIBLE BLOWER UNIT Filed July 13, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Heger? D Eu war June 4, 1940. H. D. EUWER REVERSIBLE BLOWER UNIT Filed July 13, 193'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Herkrifl fzwer BY MTTO RNEY June 4, 1940. H. D. EUWER REVERSIBLE BLOWER UNIT Filed July 13, 195'! 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 4, 1940 PATENT OFFICE aavaasmu: BLOWER UNIT Herbert D. Euwer, St.

Louis, Mo., assignor to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 13, 1937, Serial No. 153,310

15 Claims.

This invention relates to blower units in general and in particular to centrifugal blower units for air conditioning systems in which the air flow is reversed under certain conditions. Previously constructed air conditioning systems have used fixed blowers and if a reversal of air flow through the room was desired a plurality of ducts and control dampers were used. It is an object, therefore, of this invention to provide a simple blowerassembly which may be attached to existing systems to obtain reversal of the air flow.

A further object of the invention is the provi sion of a blower unit which may be coupled to the air ducts of an air conditioning system at any point and obtain reversal of the air flow merely by rotating the entire blower assembly substantially about its axis.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision of afcompact unit for reversal of the air flow to the duct system and in which the motor and blower assembly may be readily removed for repairs.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken substantially on line l--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2 -2 of Fig. l;

Fig.3 is an end view of the device showing the reversing handle;

Fig. is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but with the blower units in reversed position to reverse the air flow, and

Fig. '5 is "a sectional view of the rotating drum taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the unit consists of an inner rotatable drum A which-will carry the blower units and is mounted in a fixed drum or casing. B adapted to connect it into the duct system either at the air conditioning unit or at some remote point. The rotatable drum A is formed in the present instance by a pair of flanged drum heads 2 having their flanges 4 directed inwardly toward each other for reception and attachment of a pair of connecting plates. One of the connecting plates is formed with a relatively large flat area 6 terminating at one edge in a flange I curved concentric with the drum head flange and at the other end in a curved flange l0 likewise curved concentric with the drum head flange but termihating in a stiffening reflanged portion II. The other connecting plate is of general angle form having one leg I4 substantially parallel to the plate 6 and the other leg l6 substantially at right angles thereto and these legs terminate in curved flanges l8 and 20' respectively adapted to be connected directly to the drum head flanges. 5 Each of these connecting plates have their ends welded or otherwise secured to the drum heads and are also connected together adjacent their ends by sealing or bracing plates 22 having their upper surface substantially parallel to the leg it of the second mentioned connecting plate. The central portion of each drumhead is removed in order to receive the trunnion castings 24, one of which has mounted therein a pipe 28 extending outwardly from the casting to provide a trunnion as well as a conduit for entrance of the electric wires 30. The other trunnion casting carries a rod 32' extending outwardly therefrom to provide a trunnion which terminates in a squared portion 34 and a threaded portion 35, the purpose of which will be later described. It is thus seen that a rotatable skeleton drum is provided having approximately one-half of its circumference unobstructed for admission and removal of the blower assembly now to be described. The blower 25 assembly in the present case consists of a pair of centrifugal blowers carried upon the ends of a shaft 36 within suitable scroll housings 38, and

with its axis substantially parallel to the drum axis and as close thereto as the design of the 30 scroll housing will permit in order that the drum diameter may be maintained at a minimum. The

central portion of the shaft has mounted thereon the armature of electric or other motor 40, or any other suitable means, by means of which the 5 fans may be propelled. The scroll housings are connected by means of angle or other clips 42 to the central part 44 of a base plate, one edge of which is bent at right angles as at 46, while the other edge is bent as at 48 for attachment to and support of the scroll housings. The motor which is located between the scroll housings is also mounted upon the central portion of the plate by means of suitable securing means and adapter block 50. Portions of the base plate are removed adjacent the ends in order that the mouth or discharge nozzles 52 of the scroll housings may project therethrough for discharge of air. It will thus be seen that the motor and blowers may be mounted upon the base plate after which the assembly may be introduced into the skeleton drum and secured in position by means of lag bolts 54 extending through the plate 6, flange 46 and into a stiffening plate 56 and also by means of bolts or other means 58, which clamp the base plate upon the table or leg II. The

' securing means may also extend through the base plate and the sealing plates 22 if this is found to be necessary, but in the present instance the securing means have not been shown. With the assembly secured in position within the drum it will be seen that air leaving the fans through the throat will be discharged between {flanges 8 and ill of the connecting plates and in order to insure against leakage of air the flanges 8 and I8, as well as the drum head flanges 4 between the connecting plate flanges, are provided with rubber or other gasket material 60 secured in position by suitable means-such as rivets 62.

The housing, casing or fixed drum is also formed with a pair of flanged drum heads 64 having their flanges 66 thereof directed outward ly away from each other and to which the substantially cylindrical shell 68 may be attached such as by welding or by any other suitable means. The casing is preferably formed in two halves, each of which has. a semi-cylindrical central portion terminating along each edge in an angular shapedlip; One of these angular shaped lips 10 has a relatively short leg, while the other lip 12 has a relatively long leg. As clearly disclosed in Figs. 2 and 4 the long leg of one plate and the short leg of the other plate will be positioned adjacent each other inorder to provide the discharge outlets with the lips in a single plane. The spaces at the ends of these lips and outwardly of the end drums is closed by means of pressed members 14 formed with a plate portion adapted to be secured to the end drum and with flanges along at least a portion of three sides in order that it may be secured to the lips as well as provide an outwardly directed flange for attachment of the reducing boots 16. These boots are formed with substantially straight sides and tapering ends 11 which converge to form a substantially rectangular opening over which the adjacent ducts R may he slipped as clearly shown in 1 and 2. Prior to attachment of one 0! the casing plates or one of the end drums the rotatable drum assembly will be inserted into the casing and when in final assembled position its trunnions will have bearing in castings 18 rigidly secured to the casing drum heads at their central portion. It is thus seen that the center or rotating drum is rotatably mounted within the outer or stationary casing and that the parts are so related that the sealing means previously referred towill have wiping action upon the interior of the stationary casing during rotation of the center drum. In order that air leaving the blowers may not return to the intake side at the outlets of the casing, short angular plates 80 are provided, having one leg secured to the casing drum head and the other leg 8| directed inwardly and curved concentric with the casing and located in the same plane as the casing shell, thus insuring continuous contact between the end sealing elements and the rigid casing. One of the casing plates has the major portion thereof removed and has attached thereto adjacent the opening an angular plate 82 and a hinge plate 84, the latter of which forms a hinge support for one edge of a door 85, the other edge of which is flanged to engage a locking means L carried by the angular plate 82 previously referred to. This door is of sufllcient size as to permit withdrawal or insertion of the base plate with the blowers and motor mounted thereon. In order to control the rotation of the central drum a handle or other operating means 88 is titted over the squared portion 34 of the trunnion 82 and retained in position by means of a nut or other means 88. This handle is provlded'with a locking means in the form of a spring urged plunger adapted to engage in openings II and 82 respectively formed in the adjacent trunnion casting 18. An opening 84 is also provided in this trunnion casting in order that the central drum may be retained in an intermediate position for removal of the base plate and blower assembly.

It wfll be seen that by retracting the spring urged plunger 88 that the handle 88 may be urged through an angle of 180, thus causing the entire center drum to also rotate 180 and shifting the blower from a position such as shown in Fig. 2 to a position such as shown in Fig. 4, thus obtaining a reversal of air flow, after which the plunger may be engaged in opening M to retain the drum in the reversed position. Stops are provided upon the trunnion casting in order that the rotation of the drum will be conflned to half of a circle thus preventing twisting oil of the electrical cables leading to the motor. Attention is directed to the fact that since the trunnions are located at the center of area of the drum, while the center of mass of the assembly is located substantially adjacent the propeliing shaft 36, it would not be necessary to use the lock plunger 88 for the weight is always in such a position as to urge the handle against the adjacent stop.

In case it is desired to remove the blower assembly, this may be readily done by rotating the assembly to the position shown in Fig. 4, uniastening the locks and opening the door, after which the lag bolts 54 may be readily removed. The central drum is now rotated back to approximately the position shown in Fig. 2 but with the locking plunger 80 engaged in the opening 94 which will retain the drum in such a position that the flange 20 is approximately at the lower edge of the door opening. With the central drum held in this position the bolts 58 may be removed and the entire assembly mounted on its base plate removed through the door opening. A new or a replacement unit may be readily inserted by merely reversing the operations used in dismounting the blower assembly. It is thus seen that an extremely compact and simple unit has been provided in which reversal of air flow is obtained within a minimum space and without the necessity of additional blowers, ducts or dampers. It will also be seen that the unit may be readily repaired and maintained in service merely by adding a new blower assembly.

While the device has been described more or less in detail, it is obvious that various modifications and rearrangements of parts will be apparent to persons skilled in the art and all such modifications and rearrangements of parts are contemplated as fall within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A reversible blower unit comprising in combination with spaced air ducts located substantially in alignment, a housing joining the air ducts to form a continuous duct, said housing having its longer axis disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ducts, a drum in said housing and provided with head portions, means connecting the head portions at their edge portions and having supporting means secured thereto, a motor and blower assembly mounted on the supporting means, means to rotate said drum and attached assembly to a plurality of pre-selected positions whereby the blower outlet will be directed toward one or the other of the said spaced air ducts and the blower inlet toward the remaining duct for reversal of air flow through the ducts, and sealing means carried by the drum heads and connecting means and interposed between the drum and housing to insure passage of air to the adjacent duct fro the blower outlet.

2. A blower unit for connecting spaced air ducts, comprising a substantially closed housing having opposite portions connected to the air ducts, a drum rotatably supported within the housing and provided with spaced heads, means extending between and connecting said heads adjacent the periphery thereof, said meansbeing spaced from each other to permit passage of air through the drum, 9. motor and blower assembly supported within the drum, and means for rotating the drum whereby the flow ofalr through theunit and spaced air ducts will be reversed;

3. A blower unit for connecting spaced air ducts comprising a housing for connection to said ducts, a drum supported ior rotation in the housing by oppositely disposed portions of the latter, said drum having its exterior surface formed with openings to permit passage of air from one duct through said drum to the other duct, a motor and blower assembly supported by and arranged within the drum for forcing air through the drum and the air ducts, and means for rotating the drum and attached assembly whereby the direction of flow of air through the drum and air ducts will be reversed.

4. A blower unit for connecting spaced air ducts comprising a housing having oppositely arranged reduced portions connected respectively to the air ducts, a drum rotatably supported within the housing and provided with an internally arranged supporting plate, said drum including oppositely arranged heads, means extending between and connecting the heads to form the body portion of the drum, said means being spaced to permit passage of air through the drum, a motor and blower assembly mounted on the supporting plate, and means for rotating the drum to reverse the direction of flowof air through the unit and air ducts.

5. A reversible blower unit comprising in combination with spaced air ducts, a housing joining the ducts together to form a continuous duct for the passage of air,-a drum rotatably mounted in the housing, said drum comprising spaced apart drum heads journaled in the housing, connecting means joining the drum heads, a motor and blower assembly attached to the connecting means, and means to rotate the drum and attached motor and blower assembly to a plurality of positions whereby the flow of air through the duct will be reversed, said housing being provided with a normally covered opening through which the motor and blower assembly may be detached from the connecting means and removed from the drum and housing for repair or replacement.

6. A reversible blower unit comprising in combination with spaced air, ducts, a substantially cylindrical housing joining the ducts together to form a continuous duct for the passage of air, a substantially cylindrical drum mounted in the housing for rotation substantially about its longitudinal aids and with its periphery in close proximity to the interior of the housing, a motor and blower assembly attached to the drum interior thereof and having the motor and blower shaft substantially parallel to the drum axis to thereby reduce the drum diameter, said blower having its outlet directed toward the periphery of the drum, and means to rotate the drum about its longitudinal axis to a plurality of pre-selected positions whereby the blower outlet will be directed toward one or the other oi the spaced ducts for reversalof the air flow.

'7. A reversible blower unit comprising in com bination with spaced air ducts. a substantially cylindrical housing joining the ducts together to form a continuous duct for the passage of air, a substantially cylindrical skeleton drum rotatably mounted in the housing for rotation substantially about its longitudinal axis and with its periphery in close proximity to the'interlor of the housing, a motor and blower assembly attached to the drum interiorly thereof and having the motor and blower shaft substantially parallel to the drum axis thereby reducing the drum diameter, said blower having its outlet directed toward the periphery of the drum, sealing means secured to the drum and movable therewith, said sealing means being interposed between the drum and housing adjacent the blower outlet to insure passage of air to the adjacent duct from the blower oi the housing, said drum consisting of spaced apart end plates and connecting plates joining the end plates at their edge portions, a motor and blower assembly attached to the plates and having the blower outlet directed toward the periphery of the drum, said blower outlet extending through one of said connecting plates for unidirectional discharge of air, and means to rotate the drum to a plurality of preselected positions whereby the blower outlet will be directed toward one or the other of the spaced ducts for'reversal of the air flow in said spaced air ducts.

9. A reversible blower unit comprising in combination with spaced air ducts, a substantially cylindrical housing joining the ducts together to form a continuous duct for the passage of air, a substantially cylindrical drum rotatably mounted in the housing in close proximity to the interior of the housing, said drum consisting of spaced apart end plates, a plurality of connecting plates joining the end plates, sealing plates joined to the connecting plates and the end plates, 9. base plate removably supported by said connecting and sealing plates, a blower and motor unit mounted on said base plate, said blower having its outlet extended through the base plate and directed toward the periphery of the drum, and means to rotate the drum to a plurality of preselected positions whereby the blower outlet will be directed toward one or the other of the spaced ducts for reversal of the air flow.

10. A reversible blower unit comprising in combination with spaced air ducts, a substantially cylindrical housing joining the ducts together to form a continuous duct for the passage of air, a substantially cylindrical drum rotatably mounted in the housing in close proximity to the interior of the housing, said drum consisting of spaced ll ail apart end plates, a plurality of connecting plates joining the end plates, sealing plates Joined to the connecting plates and the end plates, a base plate removably supported by said connecting and sealing plates, a blower and motor unit mounted on said base plate, said blower having its outlet extended through the base plate and directed toward the periphery of the drum, means to rotate the drum to a plurality of preselected positions whereby the blower outlet will be directed toward one or the other of the spaced air ducts for reversal of the air flow therethrough, and flexible sealing means carried by said connecting plates and end plates adjacent the blower outlet, said flexible sealing means engaging the housing interior to insure passage of air to the adjacent duct from the blower outlet.

11. A reversible blower unit comprising in combination with, spaced air ducts, a housing joining the ducts together to form a continuous duct for the passage of air, a substantially cylindrical skeleton drum rotatably mounted in the housing, a motor and blower assembly attached to the drum interior thereof with the blower shaft substantially parallel to the drum axis whereby the skeleton drum diameter may be maintained substantially at a minimum, and means for rotating said drum and assembly within the housing substantially about the axis of the drum.

12. A reversible blower unit comprising in combination with spaced air ducts ,,a housing joining the ducts together to form a continuous duct for the passage of air, a substantially cylindrical drum rotatably mounted in the housing, trunnions located substantially on the axis ofthe drum for supporting the same within the housing, a motor and blower assembly attached to the drum interior thereof with the blower shaft substantially parallel to the drum axis whereby the drum diameter may be maintained substantially at a minimum, and means for rotating said drum and blower upon the trunnions.

13. A reversible blower unit comprising in combination with spaced air ducts located substantially in alignment, a housing joining the ducts togetherto form a continuous duct for the passage of air, a drum rotatably mounted in the housing, said drum comprising spaced drum heads journaled in the housing, a plurality of in the housing with its longer axis disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ducts, said drum being formed with openings to permit passage of air from one duct through the drum to the other duct and being substantially sealed relative to the housing toprevent passage of air therebetween, a motor and blower assembly at tached tothe drum with the blower outlet directed toward the periphery of the drum and forming with said ducts a passage for movement of air, and means to rotate the drum and attached motor and blower assembly to a plurality of preselected positions whereby the blower outlet will be directed toward one or the other of the spaced ducts for reversal of the air flow through the drum and ducts.

15. A reversible blower unit comprising in combination with spacedair ducts, a housing Joining the ducts together to form a continuous duct for the passage of air, a drum rotatably mounted in the housing, said drum comprising spaced drum heads journaled in the housing, a plurality of plates connecting the drum heads at their edge portions, a motor and blower assembly attached to the connecting plates with the blower outlet directed toward the periphery of the drum and forming a passage through the drum for movement of air by the blower, means attached to at least one of the drum heads to rotate the drum and attached motor and blower assembly to a plurality of preselected positions whereby the blower outlet will be directed toward one or the other of the spaced ducts for reversal of the air flow through the ducts, and locking means for retaining the saidmeans and drum in the selected position. v

HERBERT D. EUWE'R. 

